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The Perse School

The Perse School is an independent co-educational school in Cambridge, educating around 1,800 pupils aged 3 to 19. Entrance is by the school's own 11+ examinations, usually in English and mathematics, together with an interview.

RegionEast of England
AdmissionsSchool admissions page
DfE URN110923

The exam

Athena holds admission-route records for The Perse School. They are shown by entry cycle below; where the provider changes between cycles, each cycle keeps its own recorded exam.

2027 entry

2028 entry

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Key dates & preparation

2028 entry

Test: Late November of Year 6 — the London Consortium online assessment

Results: Outcomes are released through the consortium in the new year

Offers: Mid-February of Year 6 — the consortium’s shared offer point

When to start preparing: Start preparing in the spring term of Year 5 (the standing rule: about 18 months before the test).

General guidance: this follows the rule of thumb of starting about 18 months before the test. It is not the school's own published advice.

Source: official admissions information · checked 2026-10-28

2027 entry

Test: Late November of Year 6 — the London Consortium online assessment

Results: Outcomes are released through the consortium in the new year

Offers: Mid-February of Year 6 — the consortium’s shared offer point

When to start preparing: Start preparing in the spring term of Year 5 (the standing rule: about 18 months before the test).

General guidance: this follows the rule of thumb of starting about 18 months before the test. It is not the school's own published advice.

Source: official admissions information · checked 2026-10-28

Admissions rules

No catchment — open competition

There is no catchment area. Admission is by the school’s own assessment process (examinations and, usually, an interview); the school sets its own oversubscription criteria in its admissions policy — commonly the assessment result first, with sibling or other connections considered at some schools.

Read the school's admissions policy

Results & destinations

2025 results

GCSE: 90% of entries at 9–7; 79% at 9/8; 55% at grade 9

School-published

A level: Average point score per A level entry 51.40 (average grade A); 73.4% of A level students achieved AAB or higher

DfE performance tables

University destinations:

  • 27 leavers — Oxford or Cambridge — School-published: 27 students secured places at Oxford and Cambridge combined in 2025, from a cohort of 199 (places; the school states no percentage, so none is stored).

Source: official source · checked 2026-10-28 · official source · checked 2026-10-28

2024 results

A level: Average point score per A level entry 52.02 (average grade A+)

DfE performance tables

Source: official source · checked 2026-10-28

Scholarships & bursaries

Schemes recorded from the school's own published information. A scholarship is a merit award; a bursary is means-tested. Values are shown exactly as the school states them — where a scheme is honorary, its stated value says so.

11+ entry

  • Music Scholarship

    ScholarshipMusic

    What is assessed: Perse pupils are invited to audition based on monitored progress and contribution; the audition comprises performing at least one piece on their instrument(s), short sight-reading and aural tests, and discussing musical ambitions with the Director of Music and a first-study specialist; not means-tested

    When: Audition at the end of the academic year (after entry, in Year 7)

    What it's worth: One-off payment of £500

    How to apply: By invitation/nomination

    Official scholarship information

    Checked 2026-10-28

  • Bursary

    BursaryOther

    What is assessed: Fully means-tested under the school's Bursary Policy; assessed by Bursary Administration Limited, including a home visit; reviewed annually; assessments are independent of academic selection

    When: Assessed alongside admissions; late applications may be considered up to the entrance test date at the school's discretion

    What it's worth: 5–100% of annual fees, plus additional support with lunches and Years 7–11 device charges

    How to apply: Tick the box on the registration form requesting means-tested assistance

    Official scholarship information

    Checked 2026-10-28

13+ entry

  • Music Scholarship

    ScholarshipMusic

    What is assessed: Perse pupils are invited to audition based on monitored progress and contribution; the audition comprises performing at least one piece on their instrument(s), short sight-reading and aural tests, and discussing musical ambitions with the Director of Music and a first-study specialist; not means-tested

    When: Audition at the end of the academic year (after entry, in Year 9)

    What it's worth: One-off payment of £500

    How to apply: By invitation/nomination

    Official scholarship information

    Checked 2026-10-28

  • Bursary

    BursaryOther

    What is assessed: Fully means-tested under the school's Bursary Policy; assessed by Bursary Administration Limited, including a home visit; reviewed annually; assessments are independent of academic selection

    When: Assessed alongside admissions; late applications may be considered up to the entrance test date at the school's discretion

    What it's worth: 5–100% of annual fees, plus additional support with lunches and Years 7–11 device charges

    How to apply: Tick the box on the registration form requesting means-tested assistance

    Official scholarship information

    Checked 2026-10-28

16+ entry

  • Academic Scholarship

    ScholarshipAcademic

    What is assessed: Awarded on entrance test performance; not means-tested

    When: Sixth Form entrance tests

    What it's worth: One-off payment of £500

    How to apply: All entrance candidates automatically considered

    Official scholarship information

    Checked 2026-10-28

  • Art Scholarship

    ScholarshipArt

    What is assessed: Personal statement, a portfolio, and an interview based on the portfolio and statement; not means-tested

    When: Sixth Form admissions process

    What it's worth: One-off payment of £500

    How to apply: Apply via the scholarship section of the application form (candidates may apply for a maximum of two of art, drama, music and sport)

    Official scholarship information

    Checked 2026-10-28

  • Dr Perse Scholarship

    ScholarshipOther

    What is assessed: Awarded for outstanding contributions to the extra-curricular and pastoral life of the candidate's current school, based on the personal statement and interview; not means-tested

    When: Sixth Form admissions process

    What it's worth: One-off payment of £500

    How to apply: All entrance candidates automatically considered

    Official scholarship information

    Checked 2026-10-28

  • Drama & Theatre Scholarship

    ScholarshipDrama

    What is assessed: Audition: a monologue of the candidate's choice and a discussion of their dramatic involvement (candidates applying via the production route may instead give a short talk on their technical contribution to a production); not means-tested

    When: Sixth Form admissions process

    What it's worth: One-off payment of £500

    How to apply: Apply via the scholarship section of the application form (candidates may apply for a maximum of two of art, drama, music and sport)

    Official scholarship information

    Checked 2026-10-28

  • Music Scholarship

    ScholarshipMusic

    What is assessed: Grade 8 or above on at least one instrument; external candidates first record a video performance submission (one piece or two shorter pieces per instrument, maximum 15 minutes in total); shortlisted candidates attend an in-person second-round audition (sight-reading, aural tests and a discussion with the Director of Music); not means-tested

    When: Video submission by 1 November of the year preceding entry; second-round audition on the Sixth Form entrance test day

    What it's worth: One-off payment of £500

    How to apply: Apply via the scholarship section of the application form (candidates may apply for a maximum of two of art, drama, music and sport)

    Official scholarship information

    Checked 2026-10-28

  • Sport Scholarship

    ScholarshipSport

    What is assessed: Shortlisted on the application, references and track record (typically a recognised performance pathway, e.g. England Hockey Talent Academy); two exemplary references (school coach and external coach) are required; shortlisted applicants give a short presentation and are interviewed by the sports senior leadership team; not means-tested

    When: Applications and supporting evidence by the registration deadline of 1 November; interviews on or around the Sixth Form assessment day

    What it's worth: One-off payment of £500

    How to apply: Separate application required via the scholarship section of the application form

    Official scholarship information

    Checked 2026-10-28

  • Bursary

    BursaryOther

    What is assessed: Fully means-tested under the school's Bursary Policy; assessed by Bursary Administration Limited, including a home visit; reviewed annually; assessments are independent of academic selection

    When: Assessed alongside admissions; late applications may be considered up to the entrance test date at the school's discretion

    What it's worth: 5–100% of annual fees, plus additional support with lunches and Years 7–11 device charges

    How to apply: Tick the box on the registration form requesting means-tested assistance

    Official scholarship information

    Checked 2026-10-28

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